Since 1996, The Tampa Bay Academy of Hope has provided at risk youth in Hillsborough County with exactly what is promised in their name: hope. On Saturday, June 27th, the Tampa Bay Academy of Hope will be holding their 13th annual “Faces of Hope” black tie awards banquet.

The evening’s keynote speaker will be Michelle A. Robinson, the President of Verizon’s Southeast Region, and entertainment will be provided by the Empyreal Chinese Acrobats. An awards ceremony will be hosted by local television personalities Kathy Fountain and Frank Robertson from FOX 13. Awards will be presented in honor of the involvement of local individuals and companies that are making a difference in the lives of Tampa Bay’s youth through contributions, civic efforts, or direct involvement in their communities.

All proceeds from the Faces of Hope event will benefit the Tampa Bay Academy of Hope’s “Leadership Through Education” program, which helps “defeat illiteracy among disadvantaged and at-risk students.”

The Tampa Bay Academy of Hope was founded by former football player James Evans. Through his leadership and dedication, thousands of at risk youth and their families have been changed for the better. The Academy “offers counseling to inner city youth to put them on the path to become productive citizens.” Governor Charlie Crist says of the organization, “With the help of…organizations like Tampa Bay Academy of Hope, together we can provide a better future for our children.”

The event will take place at A La Carte Pavilion in Tampa. Tickets are available for $100 per seat, or $1,000 per table. The reception will begin at 5pm, and be followed by a dinner at 7:30. For more information on the Tampa Bay Academy of Hope and the banquet, or to purchase tickets, visit http://www.tampahope.com/ or call 813-277-0464.

Members of the Church of Scientology Disaster Response of Tampa recently joined members of other faith-based disaster response organizations in a special Points of Distribution (POD) training session, conducted by the Florida National Guard in Orlando, in preparation for the coming 2009 hurricane season.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - The Sunscreen Film Festival's Summer Camp Film School for children will begin on July 6th. The two-week program will give aspiring filmmakers the opportunity to have a hands-on opportunity to learn about the art of filmmaking. They will be scripting, shooting and editing as many as four short films.

The camp runs from July 6th to July 17th, and will be from 9 to 5 on Mondays through Fridays. The camp is for kids aged 14-18. On July 17th, at 6:30pm, the campers will hold a film screening to show off the films made during the camp to their family and friends.

Clearwater, FL - A mother, a daughter, three possible dads and a trip down the aisle you’ll never forget! MAMMA MIA! returns to Ruth Eckerd Hall beginning August 11 for 8 performances! Tickets are on sale now! More than 30 million people around the world have fallen in love with the characters, the story and the music that make MAMMA MIA! “…one of the most successful musicals of all time!” according to the Chicago Tribune.

Clearwater, FL - Grammy® nominee Maxwell is on tour for the first time in more than two years in support of his studio release BLACKsummers’night. He will perform at Ruth Eckerd Hall on Thursday, July 30 at 8 pm.

This soulful R & B singer has had four top 10 singles including Ascension (Don’t Ever Wonder), Pretty Wings, Fortunate and Lifetime (the latter two went to number 1). He is scheduled to release BLACKsummers’night, (his first CD in more than 8 years) this July, and the sultry single Pretty Wings is already number 1 on the Billboard charts. Don’t miss Maxwell in this rare concert appearance.

June 11, 2009 - TAMPA, FL - "Valentino: The Last Emperor " will be shown at the Tampa Theatre June 12th through the 17th.

Valentino: The Last Emperor, directed by Matt Trynauer, is a feature-length movie that takes the viewer inside the singular world of one of Italy's most famous designers, Valentino Garavani. The film documents the colorful and dramatic closing act of Valentino's celebrated career, capturing the end of an era in global fashion.

The Tampa IKEA grand opening was held at 9am on Wednesday, May 6th. This is the
third IKEA in Florida, joining locations in Orlando and Sunrise. Bay Area residents no
longer have to make the two and a half hour trek to get their Karlstad lounge chair.

TAMPA, FL – Friends of the Riverwalk presents FreedomFest 2009, a free patriotic community festival held Memorial Day weekend (May 23-25) along the southern section of The Riverwalk. The two-day celebration culminates with a 10am Memorial Day salute to those who served and sacrificed for this country.

Tampa FL, (February 2009) - Super Bowl history was made in our very own backyard this year—Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. It was the Pittsburgh Steelers versus the Arizona Cardinals and the game couldn’t have been more exciting. The Steelers were ahead for nearly the entire game. They were the seasoned pros, this game being the team’s seventh trip to the Super Bowl; coupled with their reputation for “steel-clad” defense made them the favored winners. The Cardinals were clearly the underdogs for a majority of the game, but things changed in the fourth quarter and it seemed as if they wouldn’t be going home empty-handed.

Is “On the Edge” And Coming To Tampa, FL Headlined by Olympic Silver Medalist Sasha Cohen & Special Guest 2006 World Champion Kimmie Meissner America’s Premier Figure Skating Production Is “On the Edge” At St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, FL on March 1st @ 3:00 PM A Portion of SMUCKER’S® STARS ON ICE® Proceeds To Benefit Boys & Girls Clubs of America

Tampa, FL (February 2, 2009) – America’s premier figure skating production, Smucker’s Stars on Ice, expands its boundaries as it returns for the 23rd season. The all-new production “On the Edge” promises to keep fans on the edge of their seats as the best skaters in the world show their amazing moves on the ice. Olympic Silver Medalist Sasha Cohen returns for her second season with Olympic, World, and National Champions to show fans what it takes to have the heart of a champion. Smucker’s Stars on Ice will visit St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, FL on Sunday, March 1, 2009 for a 3:00 PM performance.